Playing to Win (The Trouble with Tomboys Book2)

by Stephanie Street

  But not anymore. Tonight we both got to start. We’d be on the ice at the same time. Playing to win.

  Asher

  She made me crazy. I missed her so much. I wanted to blow off this game and fix everything broken between us, but of course, I wouldn’t. Tonight Jordan’s goal became a reality. I found myself grinning like a fool when I spotted her name on the starting roster earlier. I didn’t even mind Coach bumping me from winger to defense if it meant Jordan would get to play.

  She entered the locker room with her lip tucked between her teeth. She had to be excited, but nervous, too. She sat beside me on the bench and I clenched my fists to keep my hands from reaching out to her. I wondered if she could hear my heart pounding in my chest.

  Coach went through his pre-game spiel. Once he finished, we made our way into the tunnel where Joe got everyone fired up. The announcer called the names of the starters for the opposing team.

  “Let’s go!” Joe shouted. He turned to Jordan and slapped the top of her helmet. “You got this!”

  “JOE PARKS!” the announcer called and Joe skated out onto the ice, his arms raised.

  Once again, I couldn’t take my eyes off Jordan. She glanced at me and found me watching her. Our eyes held. “Good luck,” I said.

  She nodded.

  “JORDAN PARKS!”

  Jordan grinned and with one last look, followed her brother.

  We won. We’d only lost two games so far this season and were on track to make it into the post season, but that wouldn’t be until after New Year’s.

  I hurried to shower and change in the locker room. I was the first one done, and hopefully, I’d gotten out before Jordan.

  Standing outside the women’s locker room, I waited. After a few minutes, a locker door slammed from within and I pushed away from the wall to stand up straight. I still had no idea what to say to her, I just knew it had to be something.

  Footsteps. A shadow. And suddenly, she stood before me. Her pretty mouth dropped open and my lips tingled.

  “Hi.” Brilliant opening line.

  Jordan blinked. “Hi.”

  Think fast, Asher!

  “I, um- good game. I just wanted to say good game.” So lame.

  Jordan bit her lip. “Thanks. I guess I owe it to you.”

  “You don’t owe me anything.” Hadn’t I come here to take her place on the team?

  She nodded. “I do. Dad said the speed training helped. I think he might even add it into our regular practices.”

  I shrugged. “I just showed you how to do it. You did all the work.”

  “Still.”

  I hated this. But I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t make Jordan trust me. I could spend all my time and energy reassuring her but I didn’t want a relationship like that. She had to decide if it was worth the risk. If I was.

  “Are you coming to the talent show?” I asked.

  A small smile tipped her lips. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

  “Good. So, I’ll see you then?” Gah, I’m an idiot.

  “I’ll see you then.”

  “Okay.” I nodded. Good grief. I needed to get out of there. “Bye.”

  She grinned. “Bye.”

  I left before I lost all self control and begged her to give us a second chance. I wanted to be with her. I cared about her. I might even love her. All I knew, I was miserable without her.

  “Hey, um, can I talk to you about something?” Payton asked. We had about thirty minutes before he would take the stage in the talent show. We’d gone over his song twice and practiced our duet once. Payton sounded awesome. I knew he was ready.

  “Yeah, sure. Anything.”

  He looked nervous, like he didn’t want to tell me whatever he had to say.

  “Dude, it’s all good. Just say it.”

  Payton cleared his throat. “Well, I’ve been practicing with some guys over at my buddy, John’s house. We’ve been working on this song, but we didn’t think we’d be ready for the show so we didn’t sign up for a spot.”

  Ohh. I understood. He wanted to take our spot and go out there with his band. I put my hand on his shoulder.

  “Man, this thing isn’t about me. If you want to sing with your guys, I think you should do it.”

  Payton’s body sagged with relief. “Really? You don’t care?”

  “Payton, I don’t care at all. This is your chance to show what you’ve got. If you and your band are ready, then you should do it.” I glanced around the band room where the different acts were getting ready. “Are they all here? You guys should run through your song, don’t you think?”

  Payton nodded. “Yeah, they’re over there.” He pointed to three kids hovering near the door, he waved and they shuffled their way over. “Guys, this is Asher. Asher meet, John, Scott, and Trey.”

  We exchanged fist bumps. “Do you want me to listen in while you run through?”

  All four heads nodded. “Yeah, man, that would be freaking awesome,” Payton’s friend, John said, looking at me a little awestruck. “We heard you guys in the park a while back.”

  “Oh, yeah? Cool. Well, let’s hear what you’ve got.”

  The band room had all the instruments they needed to run through their song. I sat in a chair in front of them and listened while they performed. They weren’t half bad. I could tell Payton had passed along a lot of the advice and instruction I’d given him to his friends. They sounded as though they’d put the time in and I didn’t have to worry about them embarrassing themselves in front of their friends.

  “That was incredible,” I told them once they finished.

  Their faces split into happy grins before they could catch themselves, smoothing their expressions into something a little more cool.

  “Payton, my man, I think you are ready. I’m gonna go find a seat so I don’t miss anything.”

  Payton snorted. “I think you should go find my sister instead.”

  A laugh ripped from my throat. “Hey! What are you talking about?”

  He gave me a look. “It’s okay. You know you want to.”

  He wasn’t wrong. But still. “I want to see you perform, man. I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Fine. But then, I think you should find Jordan. I can’t take much more pouting. From either of you.”

  My eyes bulged. Who was this kid? “Just go out there and break a leg, okay? Let me worry about Jordan.”

  “Whatever, man. See you after?” he asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  I left them to wait their turn onstage. Payton would sing solo first and then he’d perform with his band. I shook my head thinking about how far he’d come in such a short amount of time. He’d picked up the guitar like a natural. He still had a long way to go, but he could play the chords he needed to sing this song and after tonight, the pressure would be off and he could learn at his own pace because he wanted to, not because he had to. And I had a feeling he would do it, too.

  The middle school auditorium was packed. When I mentioned the talent show to Mr. Hooper, I worried there wouldn’t be enough interest. Surprisingly, about twenty acts signed up and family and friends had shown up to offer their support. Mr. Hooper even told me he planned to add the talent show as a permanent activity for the school each fall.

  According to the program, Payton would be up next. I found an empty patch of wall at the back to lean against and watched a cute little girl juggle eight balls between her legs. I clapped with everyone else when she finished, but as she walked offstage I became aware of a presence beside me, one I’d know anywhere.

  Jordan.

  Neither of us said anything. Payton had already walked onstage. As much as I wanted to do what he said and fix things with his sister, I also wanted to be there for him. I appreciated the friendship we’d developed and this night represented so much accomplishment for both of us.

  That didn’t mean I wasn’t completely aware of every minute brush of my arm against Jordan’s or how after the third time we touched, she shifted so she
pressed up against my shoulder.

  Dang.

  My heart raced as Payton settled on a stool and adjusted the guitar in his lap. He fiddled with the microphone and the auditorium filled with a loud screech.

  “Oh, uh, sorry,” he muttered. An amused murmur rose up from the audience. And even from the back wall, I saw the red creeping up his neck, but he smiled and didn’t let it fluster him too much.

  Payton introduced himself and the song he’d be singing and then his fingers strummed the first chord. And I’d never felt so proud.

  About halfway through his song, Jordan’s hand slid through the crook in my arm. I glanced over to find her determinedly keeping her eyes on her brother, but she couldn’t hide her pulse thrumming wildly, almost as wildly as my own, in her neck.

  Suddenly, Payton’s song couldn’t end quickly enough. And, I rationalized, I’d already heard his band play.

  Payton played the final notes. I lifted my fingers to my mouth to whistle. Jordan let go of my arm to clap, too, but I couldn’t have that.

  While Payton’s bandmates made their way on stage, I turned to Jordan and grabbed her hips. Her eyes snapped up to mine, then widened. I watched carefully as they flared with the same emotions roiling through me and I knew she wouldn’t be upset with me for what I was about to do.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jordan

  Asher took hold of my hips and gently pushed me toward the exit. The auditorium lights were dim and the empty vestibule where Asher paused was lit only by the light coming from the hall.

  He led me to a dark corner. Stacks of chairs lined the wall creating the perfect hiding place.

  Asher didn’t waste any time. As soon as we were hidden from view, his lips crushed mine.

  Finally.

  It had been too long. We had a lot to discuss, but that could wait. I missed him. I missed this. And I wanted his kiss more than anything.

  My arms twined around his neck as he dragged my body closer to his.

  “It’s you,” he said between kisses. “Just you.”

  “I know.” And I did. I believed him. After Payton told me how miserable Asher had been, I decided I’d been wrong. Judged him harshly. How could he kiss me like this and then want someone else? He couldn’t. I didn’t believe it.

  Asher pulled back enough to look into my eyes.

  “You know?”

  I nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I’m sorry I didn’t believe in you.” I glanced down at the buttons on his shirt. “It had more to do with my own insecurities than not knowing you wouldn’t hurt me like that.”

  His breath came out a sharp sigh. “Jordan, I would never hurt you. Never on purpose, anyway.” His hands framed my face. “I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you.” He kissed me softly, demanding, and he ended it all too soon. “I’m sorry, too, though. That night at the park, I’ve been thinking about how hard it would be for me if it was you and there were a million guys screaming your name. I would hate that. But I’m not going to stop singing or performing. All I can promise is to be respectful of you and of my fans… and we have some. Jarom set up social media for us and it’s exploded.”

  “Seriously?” I had no idea how to feel about that, but I appreciated Asher’s willingness to see things from my perspective. I’d never want him to give up his dream for me just like I’d never want to have to choose between him, or any guy, and hockey.

  Asher nodded, and I knew right then, he was someone special. There were big things in store for this beautiful boy I’d fallen so hard for.

  “If this is going to work,” I paused to gather my courage. “If this is going to work, we have to promise each other to be honest. To talk things out. And I promise not to shut you out, to listen.” I’d learned a lot over the last couple of weeks, valuable lessons I hoped I never forgot. I had to respect Asher enough to hear his side of things and not jump to conclusions. We could have avoided a lot of heartache otherwise.

  Asher kissed me again and tears pricked my eyes. “So, we’re doing this? We’re giving this another shot?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I want to.”

  “I do, too. I’ve missed you so much, Jord.”

  This time I rose onto my toes to press my lips to his. We spent the next forty-five minutes behind that stack of chairs in the dim vestibule of the middle school auditorium and we might have stayed there longer if the lights hadn’t come on and people hadn’t come streaming out the doors.

  Asher grinned and took my hand. “Come on, let’s go congratulate Payton.”

  We threaded our way through the crowd mingling in the middle school commons until we found Payton accepting praise from my parents.

  “I’m so proud of you,” Mom said as she hugged Payton tight.

  Payton’s cheeks burned. “Thanks, Mom.”

  Dad slapped his back. “You did great, Pay. I had no idea you could sing like that.”

  “Yeah, what the heck? That was incredible.” I only felt slightly guilty for missing him and his friends perform. At least I’d heard his solo.

  Payton’s eyes widened at the sight of Asher and I together. He immediately glanced down at our clasped hands and grinned. “It’s about time.”

  At his words, both Mom and Dad turned to Asher and I.

  Asher held out his hand to my mom. “Hi, Mrs. Parks. It’s good to see you again.”

  Mom grinned, her elbow coming in contact with Dad’s abdomen. “I like him. And call me Patricia.”

  Dad frowned. “Mrs. Parks will do just fine, son.”

  Asher stood up straight. “Yes, sir.”

  Mom rolled her eyes, her smile growing by the second. “I keep thinking we should have your folks over for dinner since we’re neighbors and all. You’ll have to give me your mom’s number so we can chat.”

  Oh, dear. Asher’s face paled, but he kept it together like a trooper.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  It was time to intervene before he lost it. “Okay, well, I’m going to catch a ride home with Asher. Is that okay?” I directed my question to him, but my dad answered.

  “That’s fine, but not too late, Jordan.”

  Asher squeezed my hand.

  “See you guys later. Good job, Pay.”

  Payton saluted, grinning as he watched Asher and I make our way to the exit.

  “Where to?” Asher asked once we made it to his car.

  I gave him a shy look through my lashes that made him smile.

  “You got it.”

  Asher

  We spent several hours in the space between our backyards. I hauled out a couple of blankets and held her close to keep her warm. We talked about what we both wanted, how we felt, and we kissed. A lot.

  “I need to ask you something.” Since we hadn’t really been talking for awhile I hadn’t had a chance to tell her about the concert or to ask her if she wanted to go. I had a feeling I knew what her answer would be, but I had to make sure.

  “Hmm. Sounds ominous.” She lay tucked up against my side, her head resting on my chest, the blanket covering most of her face. It was really too cold to be outside but we didn’t care.

  “Not ominous. I made a deal with Payton awhile back. That if he did the talent show and didn’t act like a jerk during mentoring I’d take him to a concert.”

  Jordan lifted her head so she could see my face. “A concert? Why would you do that? Tickets are expensive.”

  I shook my head. “I have some I got for free.”

  She lifted a brow. “To see who?” I could tell she probably thought they were for some old geezer band at a dinner show or something.

  “Carly Ryan.”

  Jordan sat up, shifting the blankets and letting cold air swirl around us. “Carly Ryan! How on earth did you get Carly Ryan tickets? I heard they sold out the first day they went on sale. For the whole tour!”

  I sat up, too, and wrapped one of the blankets around both our shoulders. “They did.”

  Jordan stared at me, questions brewi
ng in her eyes. “You said they were free. How did you get three free tickets to a sold out show? Did you win them?”

  I shook my head. The truth was coming to her, but she didn’t want to believe it. Or couldn’t.

  “Tell me.”

  “You know. Think about it. You already know.”

  She sagged. “Are you serious?”

  “I get free tickets to every show. Even the ones on the other side of the world.”

  Jordan wiped her hand across her forehead. “Wow. I can’t believe it.” She reached for my hands. “Carly Ryan is your mom?”

  I didn’t say anything, just lifted my brows in a ‘what can you do’ kind of way.

  “Wow,” she said again. For a few seconds she didn’t say anything and then she looked at me and frowned. “All that stuff you told me- You don’t see her? The checks on National Rubber Duckie Day?” She touched my cheek. “That’s gotta be hard.”

  I turned my face into her palm. “It’s not. I don’t remember anything ever being different than it is right now. I don’t hate her. I don’t blame her. In her way, I know she loves me.”

  “Does anybody know? Nobody knows?” She shook her head with disbelief.

  “People know. She hasn’t hidden me. You could Google her and I show up as her kid on wiki sites. All my friends back in Minnesota know. But I’m not around her much and never in public. There aren’t many pictures of us together.” The only one I’d ever seen on the internet was taken when I was about ten. You couldn’t even see my face. She was hugging me after one of her concerts, the only one my dad ever took me to. She’s talked about me in interviews. I try not to watch them. It makes her sad to talk about me. I know she has regrets. It’s easier to forgive her if I don’t dwell on it.

  “I can’t wrap my head around it.”

  I watched her closely. It always felt like a gamble, letting people in. Would Jordan act different around me now she knew? Would she expect things from me? My mom might be rich and famous, but that didn’t me I had access to her wealth or fame. And I didn’t want to. Sure, if I needed something, I knew she’d come through. But I didn’t call her up asking for things all the time.